Should Women Wear the Burqa in Public Essay

In world religion it plays a big part in people’s lives; some people do not believe in religion like other people. Some countries such as Saudi Arabia have strong beliefs in religions where the people believe in is Muslim. A lot of violence can be caused by religion such as September 11 2001 where members of Al Queda bombed the twin towers in America that had an effect as it was to do with religion. People who are Muslim study the Islam religion. The burqa is known by several different names such as Hijab, headscarf, Veil, niqab khimar, chador, or jilba.

The question being asked is whether other Western states to follow the Belgian and French examples and ban the full Islamic body and face-covering veil—or more specifically, the burqa and the niqab? In other words, should the West ban any and all clothing which obliterates one’s identity? Most Europeans, according to recent surveys, seem to think so; here is some evidence to discuss whether the burqa should or should not been banned from women wearing it in public. The four themes that are being discussed are why the burqa should not be worn in public for culture, legal, women’s right to choose and safety reasons. Theme1) Cultural reasons Some Muslim women wear the burqa for cultural reasons out in public. It is a cultural tradition as well as a requirement for some Muslim women to wear a Burqa out in public. For a lot of Muslim women, their cultural identity is extremely important. Yet since September 11 as well as ongoing trouble in the Middle East, a lot of non-Muslims in our society are judged wrongly as well as being discriminated against any person who is Muslim, especially females who wear burqas.

However, As an Arab woman raised in the West, I fully understand the importance of keeping to cultural traditions and religious beliefs, but I have also learned the importance of assimilation. It is understandable that immigrants seek to preserve the old, but they must also embrace the new. And if the new happens to conflict with their own beliefs, then they might as well remain in their original homelands where they might feel a better sense of belonging and acceptance. The burqa does not fit comfortably with Western sentiments. It’s closed; Westerners are open. They want to see people’s aces. judgments about cultural values are very subjective. Who decides if particular items of clothing fit with French values? Can we trust politicians and bureaucrats to make these decisions for us? (Theme 2) Legal reasons The legal reasons for women to wear a burqa out in public. (Own words)Women wearing burqa aren’t committing crimes; others are. While it may be true that some criminals are exploiting the burqa in order to commit crimes while concealing their identity, the women that have legitimate reasons to wear the burqa are not actually the ones committing these crimes.

It is unfair to, therefore, target these women with the burqa ban for crimes that they themselves are not committing. However July 13 2010 France’s lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, approved a bill outlawing the wearing of “the burqa which intends to hide the face in public”; spaces as well as fining and putting offenders who wear the burqa in public in jail. For a woman who wears a burqa out in public, the fine is minimal; also they may require some classes to show the love of their country.

If a man is caught and forces a female to wear a burqa, the outcome includes hefty fines as well as a prison sentence. woman wearing a burqa which conceals her entire face will be fined 150 euro and ordered to attend re-education classes, the report said. But men who force their women to wear the burqa will face stiffer measures still, up to two years’ imprisonment, and 30 000 euro in fines. Sanctions will be stiffer if the girl is under-aged. Women’s rights to choose Whether women have the right to choose to wear of the burqa in public or not.

A lot of females around the world would prefer to cover up their heads as well as their bodies; before now men have looked at women intently throughout the ages; it maintains that the headscarf can provide a form of protection for females who wear the burqa, women can come and go without being an object of harassment by Muslim men. Posting of Anonyme (p. 762 University of California, Davies, Muslim women, France, and the Headscarf ban) [Vol. 39:743,2006] claims that, if they were to dress in the western type of clothing men often would think of women as “cheap”.

However, the concern for young females who wear headscarves that is forced by their family, community as well as their religion. As one local French person says, “any females that live in small towns of France are terrified by Muslim men, who compel them to wear the scarf”. The Muslim women are often separated as well as needing some protection. There are cases where Muslim females that wear the head scarf have a go at non Muslim women that choose not to wear the head scarf, that blame women about “turning their back on god and going western. Muslim women already face twice as many problems within their communities in France based upon their gender.

Just as Muslim men’s religiosity is not known by the way they dress; a Muslim female does not have a recognition factor within their own group without their veils. People may look at the Muslims who wear the headscarf as possible criminals. Amongst other things, French philosopher Andre Glucksmann has stated “Hijab is a terrorist operation…. In France, the eager students know that their hijab is covered in blood. Overall it would be better to say that woman should have the right to choose whether or not if they want to wear the burqa or not in public (Theme 4) Safety The safety reasons for women to wear a burqa out in public. However Phyllis Chesler from the Middle East Forum writes “There are also numerous cases of bans for security. In Kuwait, for example, female drivers are barred from wearing the niqab for “security reasons. ” The regulation came into effect about ten years ago when the authorities were pursuing sleeper terrorist cells and feared that individual cell members could use the niqab to slip through checkpoints unnoticed”.

Likewise the legislation in France forbids the law by not banning the hijab or headscarf, but banning only the wearing of burqa that covers the full. The law also prevents any other material as well as any garments that are not religious, that cover the face. This brings up the fear about danger. Burqas are seen as a security threat. For instance there was a suicide bombing that was carried out by someone who wore the full burqa, it was recently in Pakistan. People who wear the burqa, it covers up their identity, and then the safety becomes an issue. own words) Burqa cultivates an attitude that women are possessions, or “jewels” to be protected for a man’s own use. This attitude, and the sexual repression that comes from an environment where men can’t even see women until they are married to them, creates a dangerous combination that fosters abuse, sexual harassment, molestation, and even rape. ( Own words) In contrast, burqas and niqabs should be banned in all public spaces because they present a security risk.

Anyone might lurk under those shrouds – female or male, Muslim or non-Muslim, decent citizen, fugitive, or criminal – with who knows what evil purposes. [… ] One of the July 2005 London bombers, Yassin Omar, 26, took on the burqa twice – once when fleeing the scene of the crime, then a day later, when fleeing London for the Midlands. [… ] Other male burqa’ed fugitives include a Somali murder suspect in the United Kingdom, Palestinian killers fleeing Israeli justice, a member of the Taliban fleeing NATO forces in Afghanistan, and the murderer of a Sunni Islamist in Pakistan.

Therefore women should feel safe; whether they decide to wear the burqa outside in public or decide if they do not wish to wear the burqa and knowing and living in fear without feeling their safety is at risk. In conclusion evidence shows that females should be able to decide whether to wear the burqa out in public or not. The advantages for females to not wear the burqa outside is not being fined and also not been put in jail,